Proposal for the Establishment of a Department of Public Affairs in the College of Social Sciences and for Changing the Name of the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace to the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (Issue #64)

Faculty Retirees: Senate was approached by administration to help with developing a database of retired faculty. The Faculty Retirees website was last updated in 2004 and was formerly managed by Fred Riggs who is now deceased. Purposes: keep in touch, highlight accomplishments, and fundraising.

Chancellor Search: Committee will meet March 2 to winnow down candidates, 7-8 video interviews to help select final list to invite.

Question: Why does the policy limit academic action from taking place until the student has attempted 24 credits? Answer: Studies with the Education Trust suggest that successful completion of 24-32 hours seems to be predictive of later success.

VCAA requested that CAPP review the new policy it passed in May 2011 because the administration experienced difficulty implementing the policy. Specifically, tracking is not possible due to Banner limitations. The proposal is to retain the current system and to allow grade replacement for the second time a course is taken.

Discussion: A Senator noted that the original policy passed by the Senate in May 2011 was contentious and proposed a third option - to simply vote to go back to the original policy. The amendment was seconded. During discussion of the amendment, a Senator argued that the original motion amounts to grade inflation, resulting in a disservice to evaluators. The question was called and the vote supported closing the debate. The amendment failed. It was then observed that grade replacement is not viable across campuses; for instance, a KCC course would be under a KCC replacement policy and would be unrelated to courses taken at UHM. It was also noted that a “no” vote on the policy would keep the current policy.

At a rather contentious Library Senate meeting, some faculty challenged the proposal as diffuse and raised numerous concerns. Some faculty members from the Library are in favor or neutral, but a majority of faculty members were opposed to the proposed reorganization. There was general agreement that some reorganization was acceptable, but not as presented by the administration. The motion from CAB is to reject the reorganization. UHPA also opposes the Reorganization.

Denise Konan, Dean of Social Sciences, withdrew the Social Sciences reorganization Proposal.

Faculty Scholar and Immigration Services Proposal

CAB decided not to bring this reorganization proposal forth for a vote of the full Senate since it had no effect on faculty, and only three administrative positions would be effected. SEC will transmit CAB’s review to the administration.

Bill Chapman, member of CFS, provided an update on the student athletics fee. CSA and COA were both charged with following up on the athletic fee change and both committees support the student initiative to survey students on the athletic fee to gain feedback. Senate committee review of this issue will be suspended until the survey results are available.

Two years ago, the Regents were asked to have parking fees reviewed with external review and recommendations. Recommendations reported: Condition of our structures should be looked at; repairs needed due to rain seepage (elastomeric cover damaged). Current estimate: $3 million to repair. Not to repair would lose about half of all parking. Cost per stall for new construction: $50,000/stall. Result would be permits costing $1,000/year. So, best is to repair what we have. Market rates substantially lower than comparable rates. Look at alternate transportation needs (other ways to get people to our campus). Buy bus passes for students and employees. Permit passes would pay for passes. Total cost about $140,000 for passes. Another option: revamp shuttle service. Nelson Nigard Consults helping them come up with a plan. Current bus system takes too long. 30% live within 3 miles of campus, so an expanded shuttle service into the surrounding community may help. Cost $70,000-$80,000 to get a few more shuttles around campus.

Comment: Many students and faculty who live far out (e.g., Waianae) are disadvantaged.Comment: Reduce size of stalls; let students in dorms walk.Comment: What is being done to bring rail to campus? The Biomed lot is never more than half full; why? Ans: there is a project slated for flood remediation, which will remove that lot. Comment: Instead of re-doing floors, add a roof? Build more floors? Ans: Photovoltaic are planned for a roof over the lot. The Cost of roofing is quite high. Comment: The current plan will price low wage earners on this campus out of the market. Ans: employees choose between an upper campus rate and lower campus rate. 2017 lower campus would be $700 vs. $1,000 for upper campus.Comment: charging stalls for electric cars: some now exist. Looking at preferential rates for car-pooling, ride sharing, and energy efficient cars. Comment: Are sliding scales by zip code a possibility? Answer: thanks for suggestion, will look into it.